German consul general visits Thar coal project site

KARACHI: Dr Rudiger Lotz, the German consul general, recently visited Thar Coal Block II in District Tharparkar to observe the operations of Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC), the 660 MW Engro Powergen Thar Limited (EPTL) power plant, and community development programmes led by the Thar Foundation, the CSR wing of the Block II entities.

The visit highlighted the operational success of the mine-mouth power plant, which supplies affordable electricity to the national grid, and underscored the Thar Foundation’s holistic approach to uplifting local communities through investments in healthcare, education, women’s empowerment and sustainable infrastructure, according to a statement by the company on Monday.

During the visit, Dr Lotz toured several Thar Foundation initiatives, gaining a deeper understanding of their positive impact on the local community. At Thar Foundation School, he met with students and teachers, expressing his admiration for the quality of education provided. He also visited the Government Polytechnic Institute (GPI) in Mithi, where he interacted with female students enrolled in the Diploma of Associate Engineering (DAE) mining programme, which is supported by Thar Foundation scholarships. While there, he inaugurated a tailoring and dressmaking unit.

The consul general also visited mobile clinics and the Thar Foundation hospital, commending the healthcare services available to the local community. He also toured cultural heritage sites such as Gori Mandir and Marvi Well and participated in a tree plantation activity,recognizing efforts to make Thar greener. At a reverse osmosis (RO) unit, he interacted with women operators and distributed certificates to the newly trained staff. At the mine site, Dr Lotz engaged with women dumper drivers, appreciating the initiative aimed at empowering local women in the workforce.